Longitudinal arch support



April 22, 1924. 1,490,991 W. G. TILSON ET AL LONGITUDINAL ARCH SUPPORT Filed May 1, I922 4 JyZ. ZZZ

. Hi I Patented Apr. 22, 1924 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GEORGE TILSON AND HOW SAMUEL ILER, OF LONDON, ONTARIO, CANADA.

LON GITUDINAL ARCH SUPPORT.

Application filed May 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we. W'ILLIAM GEORGE TILSON and ROY SAMUEL ILER, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, and both residing in London, in the county of Middlesex, Province of Ontario, Canada, have 'ointly invented certain new and useful mprovements in Longitudinal Arch Supports, of which the following is a specification.

Our ln-vention relates to improvements in longitudinal arch supports, and the ob- -ject of our invention is to build in with a boot or shoe, whether worn by male or female, a support for the arch, which support will give permanent form or shape to the arch of the boot or shoe according to the type of last the same was built on, and in the following specification we shall describe our preferred form of device illustrated in the drawings herewith, and what we claim as new will be set forth in the claim forming part of this specification.

Fig. l is a plan view of our support, showing the same positioned against the insole, before the outsole has been positioned. Figs. 2 and 3 are side elevations of different sides of our support, and Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line 4-4, Fig. 3.

In the drawings, like characters of reference refer to the same parts.

It will of course be understood that the particular curvature or shape given our support will depend upon the type of boot or shoe the same is to be used with, and this shaping of the support can be done by hand or by means 0 dies.

A is the insole, B the shank and C the heel of the insQe. Our device is located substantially as shown in Fig.1, and then afterwards the outsole (not shown) is secured in place so that the support will be built into the boot or shoe.

The support comprises two plates D and E adapted to extend longitudinally of the boot or shoe. The inner plate E is located adjacent the inner side of the shank, and the outer plate D is located adjacent 'the outer side of the shank. The plate E is longer than the plate D, and the ends of these plates are curved as shown in Fig. 1.

The inner ends of the said plates are preferably integrall formed with the heel plate F, which is ocated in the position shown.

Any suitable means may be used to attach 1922. Serial No. 557,572.

the support in place. We have shown-attaching means in the form of pins or spikes G stamped from various parts of the support, and these pins or spikes will enter the insole at the locations indicated, thereby holding the support against longitudinal and lateral displacement. When the outsole (not showu)-is secured in position additional security of support against the movements mentioned on the part of the de \'l('6 will be provided.

Of course we do notconfine ourselves to using the spikes or pins G or their equiv- .lents, because it isconceivable that if care be exercised in attaching the outsole', the support can be held in the desired position from the very fact that it is clamped between the insole and the outsole.

As before-mentioned, the plates D and E will be shaped to conform to the longitudinal and transverse shape of the shank so that the arch of the finished boot or shoe will Ebe permanently held in the desired shape.

By one skilled in the art, it will be understood that by; means of our support, the arch of the boot or shoe, whether high 'or low, can be held permanently in shape.

The outer curved plate D is provided with a fiat surface throughout its entire length, and provides a natural treading base for the outer side of the foot. The inner plate E is shaped from where it projects from the heel plate F so that its outer side is higher than its inner side as far as the commencement of the upwardily curved and of this plate, which curved end hasa fiat surface. Therefore this outer plate provides a natural treading base for the inner side of the foot. The shape noted of these plates gives the necessary longitudinal and transverse support to the instep, and the ball of the foot is given proper support through the medium of the upwardly curved free ends of the said plates supporting the metatarsal arc-h at two separate points.

In use, the curved upper end of the plate D supports the fifth metatarsal head, and the upper curved end of the plate E supports the first metatarsal head.

While the outer ends of the plates D his device is .so shaped from the heel to the ball of the foot so that while the foot is supported longitudinally as well as transversely, the weight of the body on the foot is distributed over three main bearing points, namely, the heel, the first metatarsal head, and the fifth metatarsal head.

From the fact that the plates D and E are spaced apart, it will he readil understood that these plates can be individually more readily shaped to the desired form than if metal occupied the slot separating the said plates. It is believed that if the said slot were occupied by metal, this metal would be dead, in that it would not perform any function, and furthermore would add unnecessary wei ht to the article. Furthermore such meta would interfere with the proper shaping of the support.

lit will be observed upon referring particularly to Fig. 1 that the outer ends of the plates D and E where they rest against the insole beyond the shank proper are located or shaped so as to give the desired support.

The shape of our support may be altered to a considerable-degree without departing from the spirit of the invention.

manner rest underneath the first metatarsal head,

and an inner plate also integrally formed with said heel plate, but spaced apart from said outer plate, the said inner plate being curved downwardly, and having its free end curved upwardly, which free curved end has a flat surface. and is adapted to rest underneath the fifth metatarsal head; the said inner plate being shaped from where it projects from said heel plate to the com mencement of its curved outer end so that its outer side is higher'than its inner side, thereby enabling this outer plate to provide a natural treading base for the inner side of the foot: the said plates co-acting to give the necessary longitudinal and transverse support to the instep and the ball of the foot.

WILLIAM GEORGE TILSON. nor SAMUEL nann. 

